REEEP

REEEP project leaders convene in Rio

Rio de Janeiro, 08.07.2010 - (written by REEEP International Secretariat)

Some 45 key movers from REEEP’s seventh programme cycle consisting of governments, financial institutions, industry and civil society from over 20 countries gathered in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil for the third REEEP Project Leaders Meeting on 8-9 July 2010.

The two-day assembly of project managers was opened with speeches by Mr. Altino Ventura Filho  and Hamilton Moss, Secretary and Director respectively of the Department of Energy Development from Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy, and Mr. Oliver Ballhatchet from the British Embassy in Brasilia.  Secretary Ventura presented the Brazilian experience in low-carbon energy development and the role that public policy has played in making it a leader in clean energy. He also expressed a desire to work with REEEP in the future.

The meeting was chaired and facilitated by Judy Siegel, president of ESG. Fabio Rosa, a renowned Brasilian social entrepreneur working on clear energy for rural electrification, gave a motivating dinner talk to the participants. The meeting was hosted by the Brasilian government and the REEEP regional secretariat for Latin America – Organisation of American States.

Over the course of the two days, each of REEEP’s seventh call projects had the chance to present their work, as well as key barriers and opportunities for future REEEP programming.  The meeting also sought inputs from project leaders on on REEEP’s future direction and strategic positioning..  Since programme is the core activity of the Partnership, this group’s feedback has a key influence in forming REEEP’s  programme strategy. 

“It really was great to share experiences with REEEP partners  across the world who are responding to and shaping answers to common  challenges, to  influence REEEP’s orientation, and to feel part of the REEEP family,” said  Prof. Lakshman Guruswamy, Professor at University of Colorado, leader of the Women’s Energy Justice Network project.

 “The fact that we brought nearly all project leaders together for this event is a testament to the participative approach that makes REEEP unique, “ says Marianne Osterkorn, “ It’s about the fact that REEEP is more than a simple project grant funding organisation – we’re a specialised change agent whose success is strongly based on intra-partnership learning and exchange of best practices.”

“The project leaders are the most active of the REEEP partners and have high levels of expertise on low-carbon energy transition“ noted Binu Parthan, Deputy Director General in charge of the REEEP Programme,  “REEEP’s  ability to influence global public policy on low-carbon energy transition is based on the experience and expertise of the projects and this is a key event in the REEEP calendar where many of our strategies are re-calibrated.”

To the article
Back to top